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Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have arrested a South African lady in connection with suspected drug trafficking.
The suspect, Nene Happy-Girl, 38, was to board an Emirate flight to Malaysia when she tested positive to drug ingestion.
A statement by Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, NDLEA spokesman on Saturday, said that the woman gave herself up when the pains in her stomach became unbearable at the departure hall.
The statement said that she ingested the drugs in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and was in Nigeria to reconnect a flight to Malaysia.
“It was in Malaysia that she was recruited to smuggle drugs from Benin Republic,'' it said.
The statement quoted the Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, as saying that? the suspect was rushed for scan and she tested positive for drug ingestion.
“She was to go through screening when suddenly she held her stomach and beckoned on security officials demanding to see a doctor.
“Immediately, she was taken for scan and confirmed positive for narcotic ingestion,'' the commander stated.
The statement added that while she was under observation, she excreted 55 wraps of substances that tested positive to methamphetamine weighing 700 grammes.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that she had? travelled to Malaysia from South Africa,'' the statement said.
The statement added that Nene also reacted to the drug while it was in her system and the doctor was invited to assist her overcome the situational reaction to drug ingestion.
The single mother in her confessional statement said that she wanted to make life better for her 19-year-old daughter.
“I am a single mother and I trade to take care of myself and my daughter. I visited my friend in Malaysia and it was there I was convinced into coming to Cotonou to collect the drugs.
“`They gave me the drugs in my hotel room and I forced myself to ingest the wraps.
“I was asked to go through Lagos. My desire to give my only child the best education made me to engage in drug trafficking. This is my first time and I was scared of death.
“I reported myself when I was feeling acute pain in my stomach.''
The statement said that the South African embassy had been contacted and that some officials had visited her.
It said that the Chairman of the NDLEA, Mr Ahmadu Giade, has ordered investigation into the case.
“Since she was given the drug in Cotonou, the investigation may be carried out under the aegis of the West Africa Joint Operations (WAJO) which is an umbrella body of anti-drug operatives in the West African sub-region.
“We hope to dismantle the drug cell that sponsored the suspect. I cannot rule out the possibility of a joint operation since two countries are involved. Certainly no stone shall be left unturned in this case,” Giade was quoted as saying.
It said that the NDLEA boss also expressed concern over the rate at which drug traffickers smuggled drugs into Malaysia, in spite of the death penalty for drug offences in that country.
“A good number of suspects smuggling drugs to Malaysia had been arrested at our airports.''? (NAN)